Care and Support PROGRAM

The FirstLink Care and Support team has been receiving an increasing number of calls. As that number grows, so has our team. We are excited to welcome a new Care Coordinator, Hannah, and a new Care and Support Specialist, Katelyn. As our team grows, we will strive to provide the best support possible for our participants. .

We continue to hear from our participants about the positive impact the program has made in their lives. One participant shared, “I really appreciate you calling. It’s hard to resist the urge to want to kill myself but knowing you guys will be calling me makes it easier to stay alive.” This program helps people know that there is constant support out there for them, someone they can rely on. Other participants have shared, “Ever since I talked to you guys, everything has aligned. I got set up with a therapist, I cut the toxic people out of my life, I’m the calmest that I’ve ever felt,” and “This call is very helpful because I get scared to open up to people. Thank you for letting me be heard, it means a lot.” We are excited to continue growing the Care and Support program and to continue to bring hope to everyone we call.

alive, they are now going to counseling every other week, and have started taking meds to help their brain feel happy again. I was trying not to cry as this student gave me a sticker to add to my computer to remember them by and to remember to keep telling teens to call, text, or chat 9-8-8 because this service does make a difference.

Without your continued support, our staff could not be ready to answer our phone lines. We would not hear these success stories without all of us working together. Thank you for supporting FirstLink by attending our events, following us on social media sites, giving us donations to support our services, and continuing to give us support along the way.

Jennifer Illich

Jennifer Illich Executive Director

We look forward to continuing to support and empower our clients and watching the Care and Support Program continue to flourish.

For 2023’s Giving Hearts Day–North Dakota’s 24-hour online giving event–FirstLink had a bold goal to raise $43,000 on February 9th. Thanks to our generous donors and community supporters, we were able to exceed this goal and raise over $45,000! Thank you to everyone that helped us reach our goal. Since Giving Hearts Day, FirstLink has already handled over 10,000 calls! Your support has empowered us to be there 24 hours a day, providing help to all those struggling in our communities.